The National Center for Regenerative Medicine (NCRM) brings together researchers and physicians from three major institutions in Cleveland, Ohio involved in medical research, education, and health care: Case Western Reserve University (CWRU), Cleveland Clinic (CC) and University Hospitals Case Medical Center (UHCMC). The center builds on existing excellence at these institutions in studying and utilizing non-embryonic (adult) stem cells to treat heart disease, cancer, genetic disorders, and neurodegenerative diseases, such as multiple sclerosis and Alzheimer’s disease.

NCRM was established in 2004 by CWRU, UHCMC, and CC. The center builds on more than two decades of experience in non-embryonic stem cells and regenerative medicine cultivated by researchers in the center’s founding organizations.

Regenerative medicine is a new approach to medical therapy that uses stem cells to regenerate new tissue in diseased organs instead of using drugs or devices to improve function. The goal is to move from using drugs to treat disease to using adult stem cells as effective treatments.

A stem cell is a type of cell that, under specific conditions, or provided certain chemical signals, can turn itself into different cell types that make up a human, such as nerve cells, heart cells, skin cells, blood cells, and others. Non-embryonic stem cells come from human beings. They are called non-embryonic because they do not come from embryos, but can be obtained from umbilical cords (after a baby is born) and from adults, such as those found in bone marrow.

No, the Center does not conduct research with embryonic stem cells, only non-embryonic stem cells as described above. The Center focuses on adult cells because it is building upon the many years of experience in performing laboratory research on this type of stem cell and also the significant experience using them in patients.

Current Center research focuses on cancer, heart disease, diseases of the brain and nervous system, such as multiple sclerosis and Alzheimer’s disease, musculoskeletal and orthopedics diseases or disorders, such as bone fractures and muscular dystrophy, and other genetic disorders.

Continuing research conducted by NCRM investigators includes:

• Exploring the use of stem cells from the umbilical cords of newborn babies as a new effective source for cell transplantation for thousands of leukemia patients who would have no other treatment option.
• Investigating the regeneration of neurons (nerve cells) and other nervous system cells for the potential treatment of spinal cord injuries, Alzheimer’s disease and multiple sclerosis.
• Defining treatments using non-embryonic stem cells to grow new blood vessels to replace damaged ones, and having the potential to augment conventional therapies such as artery bypass grafting and angioplasty.
• Studying the use of non-embryonic stem cells to treat musculoskeletal disorders that are caused by degeneration or traumatic damage of bones and cartilage, including degenerative joint disease, complex bone fractures, dental disease, and severe skin disorders.

The Center has seen very good results in bringing new stem cell therapies into clinical trials for cancer and orthopedics where patients can benefit from novel treatments. For example, leukemia patients can benefit from umbilical cord blood stem cells when no matching bone marrow donors can be found. This provides a life-saving alternative to conventional treatment.

The Center is supported with combined funding from the founding partners and federal and state sources. In 2003, CWRU, CC, UHCMS, and Athersys, Inc., received $19.5 million from the State of Ohio to create the Wright Center of Innovation for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine. The grant represents nearly $10.9 million in funding from Ohio’s Wright Capital Fund and $8.6 million from the state’s Biomedical Research and Technology Transfer Fund. The NCRM builds upon the Wright Center for Innovation for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine.

U.S. Congressman Ralph Regula (R-Ohio, 16th) played a pivotal role in obtaining federal support in 2004. Sen. Mike DeWine (R–Ohio) and Sen. George Voinovich (R–Ohio) and U.S. Reps. Dave Hobson (R–Ohio, 7th), Stephanie Tubbs-Jones (D–Ohio, 11th), Dennis Kucinich (D–Ohio, 10th) and Sherrod Brown (D–Ohio, 13th) also contributed to support efforts.

Stanton L. Gerson, M.D., directs the Center. He is also the Shiverick Professor of Hematological Oncology at the Case School of Medicine and director of the Case Comprehensive Cancer Center. The Center co-director is Jeremy N. Rich, M.D., who is the chairman of the Cleveland Clinic's Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine Department. Debra Grega, Ph.D., is the executive director of the Center.

NCRM is located in Cleveland, Ohio. The Center is not housed in one particular building, but in several research buildings of its founding partners. At CWRU and UHCMC, NCRM researchers are located in the Iris S. and Bert L. Wolstein Research Building, Biomedical Research Building, Biology Building, and Wearn Building. At CC, researchers are located in several components of the Lerner Research Institute including the Center for Genomics Research Building.

NCRM currently has more than 20 ongoing or planned human clinical trials. These trials explore the use of adult, non-embryonic stem cells for a variety of purposes. For more information, click here or e-mail info@ncrm.us.

NCRM and its partner institutions and affiliated programs offer a variety of educational experiences from the professional level to the public. Educational offerings includes graduate courses, seminars and lectures, training programs for medical fellows and graduate students, symposia and seminars, conferences, and presentations for the general public.